lutely neceffary for the right understanding of it. So far with regard to the neceffity of a grammar: Now let us fee whether there is as much difficulty both in teaching and learning it as there is thought to be. Labor omnia vincit is a true and good maxim, fince nothing is attainable by indolence and remiffnefs, every thing by labour and induftry, which furmount the greateft obftacles lying in the way, and make the moft difficult things eafy: This is the cafe here. A mafter muft not expect his lads to become conjurers without a deal of pains both, on his fide and theirs, and therefore muft not be difcouraged if they do not anfwer his expectations at once. But when the mafter is affiduous and laborious himself, and makes his fcholars follow the example of his labour, then, and not till then, the bugbears will vanifh, and the way will be open. There is another objection which is made by some against the learning the dead languages, when (fay they) it would be more profitable and edifying to learn accompts, and to write well and handfomely, than to be perplexed with the learning of what will do them no real service in the future courfe of their lives. I own that writing, accompts, and the reading and understanding of one's native language, are very commendable in young men, and what every one ought to learn. But why muft they ftop here? Why muft fo much time, as boys generally have to spend at fchool, be fpent in the purfuit of what may be attained in two or three years, at leaft fo far that a foundation may be laid? There is certainly a time for all things. The Greek and Latin languages, in my humble opinion, may be learned by a youth without any interruption to, or hindrance of, the other branches of literature; for in them alone are to be found the most finished and complete pieces of human wit, and therefore they are deservedly propofed for our ftudy and imitation. And tho' our own age has produced many excellent writers, truly claffical, and not much inferior to thofe of Greece and Rome; tho' Milton, Dryden, Swift, Pope, Addifon, with many other British perfonages, have been, are, and will for ever be an honour and ornament to Britain; yet I may fafely venture to fay, that all their learning is reflected from the wits of Greece and Rome, and that they, like fome of the heavenly bodies, derive their luftre from the refplendent Sun of the ancients. How many young men may we daily fee, who, having been educated in places where claffical learning is neglected, can write in a fine flourishing manner with great dexterity? But with what graceful ornaments any one may judge, who is acquainted with Cicero, Salluft, Terence, Horace, &c. But I would not have it imagined that the claffics should be a boy's only ftudy and care; no, he ought to improve himself in all the other arts and sciences, which may tend both to the making him a wifer man, and a better christian. There is another great and common fault in the education of youth; I mean the total neglect of geography in most of our fchools. When boys have digested most of the common grammar rules, and made fome progress in history, it is, I think, high time for them to be fet to geography; which is fo very pleasant, and at the fame time fo neceffary, that I am furprifed it fhould be fo little regarded as it is, when boys of common capacities may in a fhort time, and without much trouble to the master, learn as much as they will have occafion for, provided they are furnished with other proper helps. Without fome previous knowledge of the rudiments of ancient and modern geography, history muft be very obfcure to the young ftudent, and the proper names of places that fo frequently occur in hiftory, will appear to be only as fo many hard names, that carry more of amufement than instruction along with them.-To teach history without geography, which has been juftly termed the eyes and feet of hi ftory, ftory, is as abfurd and ridiculous, as if a man should erect a noble building on a fandy foundation; or to bring the fimile nearer to our fubject, it is like teaching children to read, before they are expert in fpelling. When the pupil once understands the nature of the circles, longitude and latitude, with the other lines of the planifpheres (for the understanding of which, I refer him to the inftructions given in the fecond and third volumes of the Univerfal Magazine) the fight of a good correct map will be as pleafing to him, as the moft lively picture. Therefore if boys are not confiderable proficients in geography, before they leave fchool, it ought to be imputed as a fault to the maiter. The next thing that proves a great impediment to the progrefs of boys at fchool, is putting them too foon to Greek; an intolerable burthen impofed on children, whofe limbs and parts are as yet but weak and feeble, and confequently not able to bear fo heavy a yoke. This fcheme was at firft the product of fome ambitious and vainglorious pedagogues, who were defirous of having it faid, That they had a clafs of Grecian ftudents under their more to their reputation, honour, and intereft, if they would, instead of Greek, let their scholars begin with fome easy treatise in geography. It will be expected that, as I have gone fo far, I fhould fay fomething of literal tranflations, about which there has been a long, and perhaps an unprofitable difpute, in the world of letters: Some infifting, that they tend directly to the encouragement and support of idleness in our fchools, and consequent to that ought to be expelled from them; while others have took a deal of pains to prove, that they only are likely to bring boys to entertain a favourable opinion of the claffics, which would otherwise be but as bugbears to their weak and timorous understandings. It will be a hard talk to reconcile thefe two opinions, for both of which there are fo many partifans. However, I fhall make this propofal to those that are candid and unprejudiced, whether it would not be the best and most advifeable way to initiate boys in literal tranflations, and fo to lead them as it were infenfibly away from them, by the time that they have gained a competent knowledge of the Latin language, and familiarized themselves to its idiom. I wish the promoters of education would confider this... tuition; but this is not only deceiving the children, but their parents alfo, by making them believe their fons are These are some few out of the mabetter scholars than they really are. ny and great errors the common meThe father oftentimes does not under-thod of education is chargeable with; ftand fo much as one character of that but there are feveral others which language, and how can he think any might very eafily and juftly be brought thing else of his fon, but that he has on the stage, which I fhall leave to the an excellent genius? Nay, he often confideration of thofe, who are better takes him to be almoft a conjurer, qualified to regulate and rectify things. when he finds him able to read a book, of this nature, and whom it more pein which he cannot fo much as tell a culiarly concerns. However, when letter: His fon is a brave scholar, the once these obftacles to learning are remafter an incomparable man, and the moved out of the fchools of Great Brifather happy in the mighty conceit he tain, I think I may venture to proghas of them both; when the poor nofticate, that we shall not hear fuch child all the while is a mere ignoramus frequent exclamations against learning in the common rules of his Latin the languages; but we must have a grammar, and the cafieft claffic au- reformation, before learning will shine thors: But if I might advise those with her own proper luftre in the Gentlemen, who are guilty of this er- of all ranks and degrees of men. roneous practice, it would tend much eyes A brief A brief Relation of Sir Walter Raleigh's Troubles: With the Taking away the Lands and Caftle of Sherburn in Dorfet from him and his Heirs, being his indubitable Inheritance. To the Right Honourable the Commons of England, affembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of Carew Raleigh, Efq; only Son of Sir Walter Raleigh, late deceased, Humbly fheweth, THAT whereas your Petitioner conceiveth, that his late Father, Sir Walter Raleigh, was most unjustly and illegally condemned and executed; and his Lands and Caftle of Sherburn wrongfully taken from him and his, as may more at large appear by this brief Narrative hereunto annexed; the Particulars whereof your Petitioner is, upon due Proofs, ready to make good: Your Petitioner therefore, humbly fubmitting to the great Juflice and Integrity of this Houfe (which is no way more manifefled, than by relieving the Oppreffed) humbly craveth, that may receive fuch Satisfaction, for these his great Oppreffions and Loffes, as to the Wisdom and Clemency of this Honourable Houfe fhall feem fit. be W And your Petitioner shall humbly pray, &c. HEN King James came into England, he found Sir Walter Raleigh (by the favour of his late Miftrefs Q. Elifabeth) Lord Warden of the Stannaries, Lord Lieutenant of Devonfbire and Cornwall, Capt. of the guard, and Governor of the ifle of Ferfey; with a large poffeffion of lands both in England and Ireland. The King for fome weeks ufed him with great kindness, and was pleased to acknowledge divers prefents, which he had received from him being in Scotland, for which he gave him thanks. But finding him (as he faid himself) a martial man, addicted to foreign affairs, and great actions, he feared, left he should engage him in a war, a thing moft hated, and contrary to the King's nature; wherefore he began to look upon him with a jealous eye, especially after he had presented him with a book, wherein, with great animofity, he oppofed the peace with Spain, then in treaty, perfuading the King rather vigorously to profecute the war with that Prince, then in hand, promifing, and that with great probability, within few years to reduce the Weft-Indies to his obedience. But Sir Walter Raleigh's enemies, foon discovering the King's humour, refolved at once to rid the King of this doubt and trouble, and to inrich themselves with the lands and offices of Sir Walter Raleigh. Wherefore they plotted to accufe him, and the Lord Cobham, a fimple paffionate man, but of a very noble birth and great poffeffions, of high treason. The particulars of their accufation I am utterly ignorant of, and I think all men, both then and now living; only I find in general terms, they were accufed for plotting with the Spaniard, to bring in a foreign army, and proclaim the Infanta of Spain, Queen of England; but without any proofs, and the thing itself as ridiculous as impoffible. However, Sir Walter Raleigh was condemned without any witness brought in against him, and the Lord Cobham, who was pretended to have accufed him barely in a letter, in another letter to Sir Walter Raleigh, upon his falvation, cleared him of all treafon, or treasonable actions either against King or State to his knowledge; which original letter is now in the hands of Mr. Carew Raleigh, fon of Sir Walter, to be produced at any time. Upon this condemnation, all his lands and offices were feized, and himself committed clofe prifoner to the Tower; but they found his castle of Sherburn, and the lands thereunto belonging, to be long before entailed on his children, fo that he could not forfeit it, but during his own life. And the King, finding in him himfelf the iniquity of Sir Walter's condemnation, gave him all what he had forfeited, again, but ftill kept him clofe prifoner; feven years after his imprisonment, he enjoyed Sherburn; at which time it fell out, that one Mr. Robert Car, a young Scotch Gentleman, grew in great favour with the King; and having no fortune, they contrived, to lay the foundation of his future greatness upon the ruins of Sir Walter Raleigh. Whereupon they called the conveyance of Sherburn in queftion, in the Exchequer chamber, and for want of one fingle word (which word was found notwithstanding in the paperbook, and was only the overfight of a clerk) they pronounced the conveyance invalid, and Sherburn forfeited to the crown; a judgment eafily to be forefeen without witchcraft, fince his chiefeft Judge was his greatest enemy, and the cafe argued between a poor friendless prifoner and a King of Eng land. Thus was Sherburn given to Sir Robert Car (after Earl of Somerfet ;) the Lady Raleigh with her children, humbly and earnestly petitioning the King for compaffion on her, and her's, could obtain no other answer from him, but that he mun have the land, he mun have it for Car. She being a woman of a very high spirit, and noble birth and breeding, fell down upon her knees, with her hands heaved up to heaven, and in the bitterness of spirit befeeched God Almighty to look up on the juftness of her caufe, and punish those who had fo wrongfully expofed her, and her poor children, to ruin and beggary. What hath happened fince to that royal family, is too fad and difaftrous for me to repeat, and yet too visible not to be difcerned. But to proceed: Prince Henry, hearing the King had given Sherburn to Sir Robert Car, came with fome anger to his father, defiring he would be pleafed to beftow Sherburn upon him, alledging that it was a place of great ftrength and beauty, which he much liked, but indeed, with an intention to give it back to Sir Walter Raleigh, whom he much esteemed. The King, who was unwilling to refufe any of that Prince's defires (for, indeed, they were most commonly delivered in fuch language, as founded. rather like a demand than an intreaty) granted his request; and to fatisfy his favourite gave him five and twenty thousand pounds in money, fo far was the King or Crown from gaining by this purchase. But that excellent Prince, within a few months, was taken away; how and by what means is suspected by all, and I fear was then too well known by many. After his. death, the King gave Sherburn again to Sir Robert Car, who not many years after, by the name of Earl of Somerset, was arraigned and condemned for poifoning Sir Thomas Overbury, and loft all his lands. Then Sir John Digby, now Earl of Bristol, begged Sherburn of the King, and had it. Sir Walter. Raleigh, being of a vigorous conftitution, and perfect health, had now worn out fixteen years imprisonment, and had feen the disastrous end of all his greateft enemies; fo that, new perfons and new interests now springing up in court, he found means to obtain his liberty, but upon condition, to go a voyage to Guiaa, in difcovery of a gold mine; unhappy voyage is well known, almost to all men, and how he was betrayed from the very beginning, his letters and defigns being difcovered to Gondamore, the Spanish Ambaffador, whereby he found fuch oppofition upon the place, that though he took and fired the town of St. Thoma, yet he loft his eldeft fon in that fervice, and being defperately fick himself,was made fruftrate of all his hopes. that Immediately upon his return home, he was made prifoner, and by the violent purfuit of Gondamore, and fome * She was the only daughter of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, who was arraigned, in Queen Mary's time, and acquitted, See Fox's Alts and Monuments, others, others, who could not think their eftates fafe, while his head was upon his shoulders, the King refolved to take advantage of his former condemnation fixteen years past, being not able to take away his life for any new action; and, though he had given him a commiffion under the broad-feal to execute martial law upon his own foldiers, which was conceived, by the beft Lawyers, a full pardon for any offence committed before that time, without any further trouble of the law, cut off his head. the King, after ufing him with great civility, notwithstanding told him plain ly, that, when he was Prince, he had promised the Earl of Brifol to fecure his title to Sherburn, against the heirs of Sir Walter Raleigh; whereupon the Earl had given him, then Prince, ten thousand pounds; that now he was bound to make good his promise, being King; that therefore, unless he would quit all his right and title to Sherburn, he neither could nor would pass his bill of reftoration. Mr. Raleigh urged the juftnefs of his caufe"; that he defired only the liberty of a fubject, and to be left to the law, which was never denied any freeman. Notwithstanding all which allegations, the King was refolute in his denial, and fo left him. After which Sir James Fullerton ufed many arguments to perfuade fubmiffion to the King's will as, the impoffibility of contefting with kingly power; the not being reftored in blood, which brought along with it so many inconveniencies, that it was not poffible without it to poffefs or enjoy any lands or eftate in this kingdom; the not being in a condition, if his cloke were taken from his back, or hat from his head, to fue for reftitution. All which things being confidered, together with splendid promifes of great preferment in court, and particular favours from the King not improbable, wrought much in the mind of young Mr. Raleigh, being a perfon not full twenty years old, left friendlefs and fortunelefs, and prevailed fo far, that he fubmitted to the King's will. Here juftice was indeed blind, blindly executing one and the fame perfon upon one and the fame condemnation, for things contradictory; for Sir Walter Raleigh was condemned for being a friend to the Spaniard, and loft his life for being their utter enemy. Thus Kings, when they will do what they pleafe, please not him they fhould, God, and, having made their power fubfervient to their will, deprive themfelves of that juft power whereby others are fubfervient to them. To proceed: Mr. Carew Raleigh, only fon of Sir Walter, being at this time a youth of about thirteen, bred at Oxford, after five years, came to court, and, by the favour of the Right Honourable William Earl of Pembroke, his noble kinfman, hoped to obtain fome redrefs in his misfortunes; but the King, not liking his countenance, faid, he appeared to him like the ghoft of his father; whereupon the Earl advised him to travel, which he did until the death of King James, which happened about a year after. Then coming over, and a Parliament fitting, he, according to the cuftom of this land, addreffed himfelf to them by petition to be restored in blood, thereby to inable him to inherit fuch lands, as might come unto him either as heir to his father, or any other way; but, his petition having been twice read in the Lords houfe, King Charles fent Sir James Fullerton (then of the bed-chamber) unto Mr. Raleigh, to command him to come unto him; and, being brought into the King's chamber by the faid Sir James, Whereupon there was an act paffed for his reftoration, and, together with it, a fettlement of Sherburn to the Earl of Bristol; and, in fhew of fome kind of recompence; four hundred pounds a year penfion, during his life, granted to Mr. Raleigh after the death of his mother, who had that fum paid unto her, during life, in lieu of jointure. Thus have I, with as much brevity, humility, and candour (as the nature of the cafe will permit) related the preffures, force, and injuftice com mitteck |